Novel wing arrangement

ABSTRACT

A water sports device for supporting a seated human rider while the rider and the device are towed behind a powered water craft, the device including an elongated board having a front end and a back end to which is secured a seat for supporting the buttocks of the rider in a position spaced from and roughly centered above the back one-third of the board, a holder for securing the feet of the rider over the top of the board secured to the board spaced at least about two feet toward the front end of the board from the seat. An elongated hydrofoil extends downward from the board and front and rear planing blades carried by an arm which is generally parallel to the board. The arm is secured to the hydrofoil and spaced from the board, so that the blades are generally parallel to the board. The planing blades provide essentially no lift when the board is horizontal, The improvement resides in the front planing blade being carried lower on the arm than the rear planing blade such that the flow of water over the front planing blade produces less turbulence over the rear planing blade. In a water sports device for supporting a standing human rider while the rider and the device are towed behind a powered water craft, the device including an elongated board having a front end and a back end, an elongated hydrofoil extends downward from the board, front and rear planing blades carried by an arm which is generally parallel to the board, said arm being secured to the hydrofoil and spaced from the board, so that the blades are generally parallel to the board, the planing blades provide essentially no lift when the board is horizontal, the improvement wherein the front planing blade is carried lower on said arm than the rear planing blade such that the flow of water over the front planing blade produces less turbulence over the rear planing blade.

This patent claims the filing date of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/524,363, filed Nov. 24, 2003.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,100,354, 5,249,998, 6,179,676 B1, 6,551,158 B2,6,234,856 and 6,443,786 disclose water sport devices for supporting aseated human rider while the rider and the device are towed behind apowered water craft. The devices include an elongated board to which aseat and foot holders are secured. An elongate strut in the shape of ahydrofoil projects downwardly from the board. The lower end of the strutcarries an arm which is generally parallel to the board. Front and rearplaning blades are carried by the arm. The positioning of the rigidlymounted seat and the planing blades, the use of a single vertical strut,the size of the planing blade and the positioning of the foot holdersprovides a water sports device which is relatively easy to ride, whileat the same time being highly maneuverable and capable of high jumps.

The present invention provides a significant improvement in water sportdevices disclosed in the above-identified patents, the disclosures ofwhich are expressly and fully incorporated herein by reference.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In a water sports device for supporting a seated human rider while therider and the device are towed behind a powered water craft, the deviceincluding an elongated board having a front end and a back end to whichis secured a seat for supporting the buttocks of the rider in a positionspaced from and roughly centered above the back one-third of the board,a holder for securing the feet of the rider over the top of the boardsecured to the board spaced at least about two feet toward the front endof the board from the seat, an elongated hydrofoil extends downward fromthe board, front and rear planing blades carried by an arm which isgenerally parallel to the board, said arm being secured to the hydrofoiland spaced from the board, so that the blades are generally parallel tothe board, the planing blades provide essentially no lift when the boardis horizontal,

-   -   the improvement wherein the front planing blade is carried lower        on said arm than the rear planing blade such that the flow of        water over the front planing blade produces less turbulence over        the rear planing blade.

In a water sports device for supporting a standing human rider while therider and the device are towed behind a powered water craft, the deviceincluding an elongated board having a front end and a back end, boardfrom the seat, an elongated hydrofoil extends downward from the board,front and rear planing blades carried by an arm which is generallyparallel to the board, said arm being secured to the hydrofoil andspaced from the board, so that the blades are generally parallel to theboard, the planing blades provide essentially no lift when the board ishorizontal,

-   -   the improvement wherein the front planing blade is carried lower        on said arm than the rear planing blade such that the flow of        water over the front planing blade produces less turbulence over        the rear planing blade.

In the past the front wing has been attached to the top of the arm andthe rear wing has been attached to the bottom of the arm, that is, thefront wing is higher than the rear wing. This results in unwanted waterturbulence over the rear planing blade. According to this invention, theextent of turbulence over the rear blade is diminished by having thefront blade lower than the rear wing.

The wing arrangement of the present invention can be achieved in avariety of ways. For example, in a first embodiment, the front wing canbe attached to the bottom of the arm and the rear wing attached to thetop of the arm to make the rear wing higher than the front wing.Alternatively, in a second embodiment, both wings can be attached to theupper surface of the arm with the rear wing being elevated by about 2 or3 inches above the top surface of the arm. This is accomplished by theinsertion of a rigid washer or spacer between the top surface of the armand the underside of the rear wing and bolting or joining these partstogether.

The first embodiment reduces the impact and stress on the bolts used tohold the wing to arm and the front wing is more firmly attached to thearm when impacting the water due to the pressure now pushing the winginto the arm. The result is a stronger product with less flex from leftto right. There is also a larger wing surface to the bottom of the wingdue to the lack of the width of the arm being in the way and displacingwater out to the side of the blade. The result is a larger planingsurface and a stronger planing surface. The higher rear wing allows theboard to switch its angle of attack needed in jumping the towablehydrofoil as the strut displaces and cuts through the water resulting inless resistance or drag on the rear wing. When the water hits the strutthere is less resistance than when it hits the entire flat surface ofthe wing. The previous designs did not take this into consideration andresulted in a slower reacting hydrofoil and weaker components.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of the water sport device of theinvention with the rider being towed by a tow rope.

FIG. 2 is a partial side view of the hydrofoil, arm, front wing and rearwing elements of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Turning to the drawings in greater detail.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a “flying ski” 10 which embodies thepreferred design of the water sports device present invention. Theflying ski 10 includes an elongate board 12 having an upper surface 14and a lower surface 16, and a front end 18 and a back end 20. A seat 22extends generally perpendicular to and upward from the upper surface 14of the board for supporting the buttocks of a seated rider 24 at a pointspaced above the back of the board.

The seat 22 is carried by the support member 26.

The rider's legs extend forward toward the front of the board, wherethey are secured by a holders 28, such as a pair of rubber sheets 30,which are attached to the board about two feet forwardly of seat 22 soas to form two elongate generally semicircular loops into which the feetof the rider can be inserted.

An elongate hydrofoil 32 extends generally perpendicular to and thru atight fitting opening in the board 10, and usually is secured to support26. The portion of hydrofoil 32 extending below the board 12 is of awater foil shape in cross section. The upper end of the hydrofoil 32 canbe affixed to the board 10, generally beneath support member 26. The arm34 having a forward end and rearward end is fixed to the bottom end ofthe hydrofoil 32 at a point just forward of the middle of the arm 34. Aforward planing blade 36 is secured to the bottom of the forward end ofthe arm 34 so as to be generally parallel to the board 12. The rearplaning blade 38 is secured to the top of the rearward end of arm 34generally parallel to the board 12.

As indicated above, there are alternative arrangements which willposition the rear planing blade 38 above the forward planing blade 36,with both blades being carried on the upper surface of arm 34, to securesome or all of the benefits of this invention.

In the first embodiment, the invention can be made by simply invertingthe arm 34 carrying the front and rear blades 36 and 38. Thus, one canremove the arm, turn it over, and then weld it to the hydrofoil 32.

Optionally, further strengthening can be provided by gussets 40 as shownin FIG. 2. The gussets 40 can be integrally formed with arm 34 to createan opening for receiving the end of hydrofoil 32. Once assembled, theseparts can be easily welded.

It will be understood that seat 22, support 26 and holders 28 areeliminated in the alternative wherein the rider stands up with his feeton the upper surface 14 of elongate board 12.

1. In a water sports device for supporting a seated human rider whilethe rider and the device are towed behind a powered water craft, thedevice including an elongated board having a front end and a back end towhich is secured a seat for supporting the buttocks of the rider in aposition spaced from and roughly centered above the back one-third ofthe board, a holder for securing the feet of the rider over the top ofthe board secured to the board spaced at least about two feet toward thefront end of the board from the seat, an elongated hydrofoil extendsdownward from the board, front and rear planing blades carried by an armwhich is generally parallel to the board, said arm being secured to thehydrofoil and spaced from the board, so that the blades are generallyparallel to the board, the planing blades provide essentially no liftwhen the board is horizontal, the improvement wherein the front planingblade is carried lower on said arm than the rear planing blade such thatthe flow of water over the front planing blade produces less turbulenceover the rear planing blade.
 2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein thefront planing blade and the rear planing blades are carried on oppositesurfaces of said arm.
 3. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the frontplaning blade and the rear planing blade are carried on the same surfaceof said arm.
 4. The improvement of claim 1 wherein gussets are providedbetween the hydrofoil and arm at the front and rear of the arm.
 5. In awater sports device for supporting a standing human rider while therider and the device are towed behind a powered water craft, the deviceincluding an elongated board having a front end and a back end, boardfrom the seat, an elongated hydrofoil extends downward from the board,front and rear planing blades carried by an arm which is generallyparallel to the board, said arm being secured to the hydrofoil andspaced from the board, so that the blades are generally parallel to theboard, the planing blades provide essentially no lift when the board ishorizontal, the improvement wherein the front planing blade is carriedlower on said arm than the rear planing blade such that the flow ofwater over the front planing blade produces less turbulence over therear planing blade.